Has the aftermath of the Pet Food Crisis of 2007 not taught us
anything in regard to the ingredients in pet foods?
I believe that the following statement and its
variations should be removed from all advisory literature,
broadcasts and websites (such as the Food and Drug Administration's
website):"For the appropriate amount and type of food to
give your pets, ask/consult your veterinarian"

This "advice" promotes a serious conflict of interest
as it does not advise to see a Holistic veterinarian
or Nutritional Specialist who would be knowledgeable of nutrition
and diet.

Before dismissing, consider:

There are veterinarians in practices which sell and profit
from certain pet foods;

What foods these are, and the ingredients;

The fact that these particular doctors have
(or utilize) no formal nutritional training, as they are
merely influenced by the companies from which they receive monetary
incentives.

Is there a creature or ailment on earth which could, possibly, require
a prescription of that?
Benefits? Nutritional value?

It's one thing for companies to advertise with heartwarming,
convincing commercials, but another thing altogether when somebody in
the medical profession, whom we entrust with our pets' health
and well-being, is telling us we "should" feed this.

Think about it. Do Opticians sell Big Macs in their lobbies
and prescribe us low-grade diet pills at inflated prices because we
have Cataracts?

Why is a doctor of medicine even "prescribing"
and "advising" something which is, clearly, not medicine?
Veterinarians are retained by pet owners because we trust
them with the health and well-being of our pets, are they not?

This especially came into doubt -- regarding just a
percentage -- with the pet food catastrophe. How many people
were rushing their suddenly sick pets which were eating "prescription
formulas" back to vets who had sold it to them? Could a
vet actually blame the food they sold? Did they? Can they now,
even after pets have died and the owners are suing the
manufacturer of these foods? And what if the pet's
allergic to corn and soy?
The Big Question: How many clients paid the manufacturers
of these foods for their trusted advice and guidance? (Just see various
online message forums for samples of distressed pet owners during
the recalls which strongly indicate what appears to be a fatal --
and excessively costly -- conflict of interest. http://www.consumeraffairs.com/pets/hills.html
Many more examples: http://cats.about.com/b/2007/03/31/hills-recalls-sd-prescription-diet-md-dry-food.htm )

Felines are an obligate Carnivorous species, yet check out the ingredients in
the cat foods. And how many owners are aware that these animals are
not exactly engineered by nature to digest the dry food,
and that a diabetic cat's demise can be accelerated
on such dry food diets? All this can be easily confirmed
and verified by Feline Specialists who would NOT have a conflict
of interest selling said foods.

With all the fancy advertising and appealing labels, it's quite
the challenge trying to persuade my own relatives to
feed some of the many healthy alternatives available.
Virtually impossible, however, swimming upstream against that
statement/advice being issued, uttered, posted or printed
almost anywhere pet food is mentioned.

Incidentally, my own dog's chronic ear infections have magically
disappeared since he's been eating foods which actually contain
ingredients nutritionally beneficial to a canine. No more expensive visits
and ear drugs for him!

Whether or not it is a conflict of interest for veterinarians to
be selling this food can be debated (as it's a big source
of income for them).
But to be advised by trusted and influential sources to
consult a veterinarian -- whose job is to medically diagnose
and treat-- regarding food is another thing. As the ingredients
listed right on the labels will attest, many have (obviously)
not formally studied or trained in regard to nutrition and diet.
Am I wrong to request that such advice should be
removed from any FDA literature or websites, as well
as, all other advisories issued?